Self-laying submersible contact-mine.



M. BERTRAND. SELF LAYING SUBMERSIBLE CONTACT MINE.

APPLICATION FiLED APR. l0, [HI8- Patented Jau. 7, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. BERTRAND., SELF LAYING SUBMERSIBLE CONTACT MINE. APPLICATION msn APR. lo. |918.

1,29,054. Patented Jan. 7,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. BERTRAND. SELF LAYING SUBMERSIBLE CONTACT MINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I0. I9I8. 11,290,055@l Patemed Jan. 7,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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MATTHIEVV ABERTRAND,

OF BUTTE, MONTANA.

SELF-LAYING SUBMERSIBL CONTACT-MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 7, 1919.

Application flied April 10, 1918. Serial No.` 227,741.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MATTHEW BERTRAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silver Bow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Self-Laying Submersible Contact-Mines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to floating mines, and particularly to contact mines which are' exploded upon contact. with a vessel or other body.

The general object of this invent-ion is to provide a mine of this character so constructed that after it is launched from a ship or other starting point it will proceed in a. predetermined direction under its own power until the power of the motor is exhausted or the motor ceases to. function, and that the mine will automatically sink to a predetermined depth and will become automatically anchored.

A further object is to provide mines of the type described with a supporting oat, this float being normally held in close engagement with the mine itself, whereby the buoyancy of the float will cause the mine to be supported upon the surface of the water, and provide means whereby this float is released after the mine has traveled a predetermined distance to thereby permit the mine proper to sink to an extent permitted by the cables connecting the i'ioat to the mine, the mine thus being supported at a predetermined depth below the surface of the water.

A further object is to provide a mine of this character with an anchoring cable, the anchoring cable being normally wound upon a suitable drum carried by the mine, and provide means whereby when the iloat is released, the anchor will also he released.

A further object is to provide means for releasing the iioat and the anchor, this means being set into operation by the stoppage of the motor which normally drives the mine through the water. In other words, when the motive power gives out the mines cease to move further and the iioat and anchor is released.

Still another object is to provide for the purpose above mentioned, a compressed air tank, discharge from which is controlled by a valve, in turn controlled by operative connections to the motor.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevation showing in full lines my self laying contact mine in its final position7 and in dotted lines the positions taken by the contact mine before it comes to its final position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the mine, the float being shown as released and the anchor as released;

- Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig.

Q, showing the float disengaged;

Fig. 4 is a like view to Fig. 3, but showing the float in place in the mine and engaged by the locking devices;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a. sectional view of the valve 32 and the cylinder 36.

Referring to these drawings, it will be seen that the body 10 of the mine is oigan shaped having its forward end rather more pointed than its rear end and this body at its middle and upon its upper surface is formed with a downwardly extending chamber or recess 11. The ends of this recess are rounded, and on the bottom of the recess are disposed the coiled expansion springs 12. Disposed forward and rearward of this recess 11 are the manholes 13, whereby access may be had to the interior of the body. Extending transversely through the upper portion of the body are the flooding passages or tubes 14, whichl open upon the exterior of the body and into the rec-ess or chamber 11.

Adapted to be disposed within this chamber 11 is the anchor float 15 which is cylindrical in form and has rounded ends. This oat on its opposite side walls is formed with the recesses 16 and coacting with these recesses are bolts 17 mounted upon the upper ends of oppositely disposed levers 1S, each lever being fulcru-med intermediate its ends, and each lever at its lower end being opera- Y feo tively connected to a'piston rod 19 carrying a piston 2O operating Withina cylinder 2l.

lt Will be noted that there are four'ofthese Y levers 18 and four cylinders 21,*these cylinders being disposed in'pairs. Each piston 20 is urged outwardby a'spring 22.

Each of these cylinders 21 is connected to an air line 23 which extends down to the keel .of the mine and Vthen extends longitudinally to the forward end of the mine and is there connected to a tank 24 holding compressed air. This tank may either be "conne'ctedtoan air pump or compressor'or it may be initially filled with compressed air. It -Will be obvious noWl that if the compressed air in the tank 24 be allowed to flow to the cylinders 2l, it YWill force the pistons 20 inward, thus releasing Vthe bolts 17 from their engagement With the iioat 15. This float15 is connected to the body of the mine by ymeans of the anchor cable 25 and the downwardly diverging Vcables 26 VWhich are connected'to the Walls of the recess or compartment 11. Therefore, When the-float is released it Willrise to the surface of the Water to an' extent. `determined by the length of the cables 25 and 26.

The mineis propelled through the Water by means of a propeller 27 carried by the propeller shaft 28, in turn connected opera tively" to a motor 29, which I haveY V"lius trated as an internal combustion engine, though any other form Vof motor Vmight be used. Coacting with vthis internal combusl tion engine is a timer 30, of any usual or ordinaryV form, connected' inV t-he ignition circuit ofthe motor by any suitable conductors. Current is supplied from a storage batteryv 31 from Which suitable con ductors return tothe timer 30, these conductors being.' disposed in an insulating conduit;y Y

The function of the motor 29 is not only toloperate the shaft 28, but to control lthe valve 32 disposed in the pipe line 23,'so that When the motor is operating the valve will be caused to prevent the passage of com- Y turn compresses air in anair tank 34., .thispressed air tok the cylinders 21. To this end, the motor 29 drives a small air coinpresser 33 of any suitable form, which in air tank being connected bythe lpipe'35 to a cylinder 36 and having thereinv a vpiston- 37 operatively connected to' the arm ofV the valve .32.. A spring 39 acts to urgelthe piston 37 ina directionto open the valve 32, but when the pressure in the cylinder 361isrv sufficiently great the spring 39 is compressed Y andl the Yvalve 32 held closed by the pressure.

Now when the motor ceases tooperate, because, for instance, of thel exhaustion--Y of the storage battery 31, the spring;39v Will' over-V come the .pressure in the cylinder` 36 and the valve 32 Will open permitting compressed air to flow to the cylinders 21 which tion for this explosive charge, but

` .pump 40 fconn`ectedfby a pipe 41 to the chamber or air'tank 24, this compression pump being operated current fromxafstorage battery 42 connected lby suitable conductors to the motor of thepump. This is notnecessary, however, if the. chamber 24 is ini-V tially charged Witnsufhcient air and if there 1sneieakagae.V l Y c The loWer portion of themine'is formed toprovid'e a chamber 43V wherein is disposed a reel or dir-um 44 having Wound thereon a cable 45 carrying an. anchor 46. Thisdrum is held froml any unyvinding movement bv means of a latch 47` connected toa. piston rod 48, having thereon a piston 49 operating in' a cylinderr 50 and urged-'in one directimi'biv a spring 51. piston fromthis spring, the cylinder50is connected bya.l pipe 52 to the air pipe=23' and thus WhenA the Yiioat 15 is released.v theA drum or reel'44 is also released and the vvv'eight of the anchor causesrthe cable to unwind until the anchor touches the bottom..

The mineisnormally guided by a rudder 53 which has a rudder post 54 detachably engaged; by a detachable rudder shaft or pintle 54a which' is connected-toi a. bell crank lever 55, in turnconnectedwith a .piston rod 56, entering a cylinder 57 andca-rryinga. piston 58. AY spring 59urges the piston 1n one directionandthus When the motor stops On the opposite side ofL the Y and the valve 32":isopened1, airw ill' passfby v f .h meansof pipe 0 tothe cvlinder'r forcing the piston- 59YbackY and'liftingv the pintle 54?x from its engagement withV therudder, thus detaching the rudder automatically. Preferably the rudder is connected a cable 61 toa WeightY 62, this cable. 61 being pref erably about one Vhundred and fifty feet in length. f

s The body 10.is'fermedftoprovide'an elongated compartment Witlf'iin;y which theoperating mechanism heretofore described isdisf posed,l and exteriorlly of this compartment, that is bet-Ween it and thelo'ute'r shells: of the mine,` is placed gun cotton:y or other high explosive. be of gun cotton or any other suitable material, :may be r isposed 1n any'suitableclrarn-i berlor compartment in themineand l doznotwishto be limited tol'anyeparticular disposiiil'ust'ra-ted the'mine as being formedv with a belt of gun cotton a disposed in av suitable compartment formed upon the exterior of The explosive charge, which mayv r have. i

the shell 10 of the mine and extending longirent, which is obviated by detaching the tudinally thereof on each side of the mine. rudder. Further, the detachment of the Any suitable means may be used for ignit- 'rudder prevents the mine being afterward ing the explosive charge of the mine and I used by enemies. It will be obvious, of

do not wish to limit myself to the use of any course, that the weight, if the mine drags 70 particular' detonating means. I have shown the weight after it, will hold the rudder in for this purpose, however, a series of contact a straight line and guide the mine. The pins 63 which extend through tubes 64 and weight 62 is attached to the rudder to keep which are urged upward by springs 65 and the rudder straight when the mine is in mothe inner end of each pin engages with a tion and to sink the rudder when detached. 75 contact member 66 normally held out of A further reason for detaching the rudder electrical engagement with a coacting con# is to cause the mine to balance when it comes tact member "67, These contact members 66 to a stop. If the rudder were not detached, and 67 are electrically connected by suitable the `weight and rudder Ywould cause the mine wiring 68 to dry batteries 69, though other totilt upward with the bow higher than the so forms of batteries may be used. It is obstern. mous that when a vessel strikes this mine After the float has been released, the anone or more of the contact pins 63 will be chor released and the rudder' weight reforced inward, thus closing an electrical cirleased, the mine will be supported a predecuit. This electrical circuit may include in termined distance below the surface of the 85 it any suitable detonating device where-by water and anchored from further movement. the charge may be exploded. I have not at- While I have illustrated a form of my intemptedto show the detonating device, howvention which I believerto be particularly ever, as this forms no part of my invention. effective, it will be understood that many Any other suitable means may be used to minor changes may be made in the details of 90 secure the explosion of the mine upon conconstruction and the arrangement of the tact with a vessel. parts without departing from the spirit of The general operation of this mechanism the invention, as defined in the appended will be obvious from what has gone before. claims.

When the mine is launched, the float l5 is Having described my invention, what I 95 disposed within the compartment 1l so that claim 1s: the float l5 supports the mine on the surface 1. A mine, propelling mechanism thereof the water. Under these circumstances, for, including a motor, means for supplylng the propeller will not. t0 drive the mine a power to the motor for a predetermined predetermined distance, as for instance the time, a float having flexible connections to 100 length of the cable 61 and the rudder will the mine, means for holding the float in close cause the mine to proceed in a predeterengagement with the mine to thereby cause mined direction. When the mine has shiftthe flotation of the mine, and means for reed tolthe full length of the cable, the mine, leasing the float from direct engagement if the Weight is heavy enough, will be held with the -niine when the motive power has 105 from further forward movement, but if on become exhausted, to thereby permit the the other hand, the weight is relatively mine to sink.

light, the mine will continue to move for- 2. A mine, propelling mechanism there# ward dragging the weight after it, until for including a motor, means for causing the the motor ceases to operate. stoppage of the motor after a predetermined 11o The motor will continue t0 act until it is time, a float having flexible connection with either stopped by lack of fuel, the eXhausthe mine, means for holding the float in tion of its storage batteries, or from any close engagement with the mine, and means other predeterminable cause, and then the operated upon the stoppage of the motor valve 32 will open, permitting compressed releasing the iioat from its engagement with 115 air to pass from the reservoir 24 into the the mine, to thereby permit the mine to sink latch releasing cylinders 21, causing the rea distance equal to the length of the conneclease of the latches 17 and permitting the tion between the float and the mine. float to rise to the surface of the water. 3. A mine, propelling mechanism there- At the same time that the float is released, for including a motor, means causing the 120 the latch 47 is released from its engagement stoppage of the motor after a predetermined with the drum permitting the anchor to time, anchoring means normally held in in- `drop. At the same time, the rudder is deoperative position, a float normally held in tached and drops off. closed engagement with the mine to thereby The reason for detaching the rudder is cause its flotation, and means operated by 125 twofold. After the mine has reached its the stoppage of the motor for releasing said predetermined position, there is no further ioat and releasing said anchoring means. use for the rudder, and the connection of 4. A mine, means for propelling the mine the mine to the weight would prevent the for a predetermined time, means for supmine from swinging properly with the curporting the mine upon the surface of the 130 waterv while it is being propelled,and means causing the mine to sink to a predetermined distance below the surface of the water upon the stoppage of the propelling means.

5. A mine, propelling mechanism'therefor including a motor, `and means causing the motor to Ivfunctionfora predetermined time, a rudder, and means operated upon the stoppage of the rmotor causing the mine toV sink a predetermined distance and releasing the rudder from its engagement with the mine.

6. A mine, propelling mechanism therefor including a motor, meansfor causingy the motor to operate for a predetermined time, a reel carried on the mine, an anchoring cable connected thereto and normally wound thereon, and means operated upon a stoppage of the motor causing the mine .to sink to apredetermined level Yand releasing said reel to permitthe vanchor to be released.

7. 'A mine, propelling mechanism therefor including a motor, means for supplying power tothe motor for. a predetermined time, a detachable rudderand an anchoring weight and length of flexible connection between said weightand the rudder, and means for causing the sinkingof theV mine toa .predermined level upon the exhaustion of the motive power and for releasing said rudder from its engagement withV lthe Lmine upon said exhaustion.

V8. A mine vhaving an upwardly opening chamber, a -float normally'fdisposed in said chamber, latches mounted within the mine and vhaving portions thereof engaging directly with 'the float, and holding the float in place in the chamber, and lmeans acting upon a predetermined lapse of time releasing said latches, the mine being flexibly 'connected tothe ioat and beingheav-ie'r than water. Y

9. A mine, a float therefor,vlatches holding the float in engagement with the mine, flexible connections between the float and the mine, cylinders, pistons connected to 'the latches and disposed Vwithin the cylinders, springs holding the latches in engagement with the Horat, a pipe connected to 'a source of compressed air and extending-tothe said cylinders, a valve norm'allv closinr` passage through thepipe, and meansjoperating l'after a' predetermined lapseV of l time acting to iope'n outside of the mine, eXible connections"be tween the mine and theioat, means forY re-V taining the oat within said compartment, and .motor controlled-'means for releasing saidfloat.

l2. A mine having an upwardlyy opening s compartment, a float normally disposed in said compartment, the compartment being connected to flooding tubes opening upon the outside Vof the mine, HeXible lconnections between the mine and the floatymeans for-retaining the-float within saidV compartment, springs urging the float out of the compartment, and motorcont'rolled means for `vreleasing -saidv latches. i f

I3. Amine, propelling meanstherefvr including 'an internal :combustion motor., storage batterieselectrically connected to the ignition system of the'motor, a float re'c'eiving compartment, a float therein having flexible connections to the mine, means for retaining the float in close engagement with the mine including spring actuated latches, compressed air operatedmeansfor releasing said'latches, an air tank, a tubular'con-ne'ction from the air ytank tothe compressed-'air operated means, a valve controlling the flow of air, and motor controlled means for opening said valve upon the stoppage `.of the motor.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature in the vpresence of two witnesses.

MATTHEW BERTRAND.

Witnesses: ERNnsrRoBITAnLE, J. S. SMITH.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained vfor `five cents eachyby'adiressing the Commissioner of Patents,` Y Washington, D. C. Y Y. Y 

